The London and St. Thomas Association of REALTORS® (LSTAR) announced 757 homes exchanged hands last month, down 10.2% from the same time last year.

Year-to-date sales are up 10.6%, with a total of 10,111 homes sold, marking the second consecutive year residential sales have surpassed 10,000 across the region.

The October results mark a new chapter for LSTAR, after launching the CoreLogic Matrix platform as part of the Ontario Collective, a collaborative group of 13 real estate boards and associations across Ontario focused on delivering robust data, tools, and the best available technology to support over 5,000 REALTORS®.

“LSTAR was part of the Collective’s first phase launch of this new enhanced regional MLS® System, supporting our REALTOR® Members to better serve consumers,” said Jim Smith, 2017 LSTAR President. “Along with the launch of Matrix, LSTAR has also upgraded its monthly home statistics reporting, thanks to a collaborative partnership with the Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA).”

“LSTAR has been working with CREA over the last few months to develop this report and we are very excited to share the data with our Members and the public,” Smith said. “The CREA report includes more specific residential activity based on geography and more detailed comparison statistics to activity in previous years.”

In October, the average sales price across London and St. Thomas was $325,331 up 14.2% from the same time a year ago. The average year-to-date sales price was $330,497 up 18.3% from October 2016.

“When looking at the region, home sales in London East, London South and London North have posted healthy gains in year-to-date activity,” Smith said. “In London East, home sales are up 21.2% compared to a year ago, while in London South, sales are up 13.9% and in London North, sales are up 6.5% compared to this time last year.”

In October, there were 847 listings, down 17% from the same time in 2016. St. Thomas saw a total of 67 homes sold, down 21.2% from the same time last year. The average home price in St. Thomas was $284,344 up 25.7% from October 2016.

Whether you’re at home sleeping or away on vacation, it’s important to know that your home is secure. A secure home is also much more attractive to potential buyers when it comes time to sell.

Smart lighting, remote locks and wireless cameras can all make your home safer; however, the issue of cyber criminals hacking into smart home systems is a valid concern so homeowners shouldn’t forget about the basics.

Eliminate potential hiding spots by trimming down bushes that are around your windows and doors. Most thieves are opportunists who see an open door or window and decide to take a chance and see what they can make off with.

Next, install strike plates on your doors to help protect the deadbolt from crowbars or kick attacks. Thieves want to get into your home as quickly as possible so if one forceful kick doesn't work, they’ll likely turn and run.

Windows are also popular break in points so install heavy sash or keyed locks. Installing an eyebolt in window corners also prevents the window from being opened from the outside. Glass block windows are an excellent choice as they look attractive, can't be opened and are extremely difficult to break.

Give the impression your home is lived in while you're away on vacation by installing a dusk-to-dawn porch light. Although technology allows you to control blinds and lights right from your smartphone, you'll still need to find someone to rake your leaves as there isn’t an app for that yet!

When it comes to home security, paying attention to the little things can often make a huge difference so take time to "case the joint" and list all the security failures that burglars would appreciate. Potential buyers will prefer a secure home as it's one less thing for them to worry about so you may as well do it sooner than later so that you can enjoy the benefits as well.

Feng shui is an ancient Chinese practice that helps achieve a harmonious living environment in order to promote happiness and prosperity. Here are a few ideas to enhance the energy flow around your home:

Think Outside the Nest - Birds bring great energy so add a few feeders and a bird bath in your backyard.

The Right Path - Place a few plants and wind chimes on your porch and make sure the path to your front door is unobstructed.

Fire & Ice - Essential oils, crystals, candles and water features such as fountains and fish bowls will bring calm and balance into your home.

Mirror, Mirror - The strategic placement of mirrors helps improve feng shui by drawing more sunlight into otherwise murky rooms and by expanding narrow areas such as hallways.

De-clutter - Clearing your home of clutter will introduce a smoother flow of energy. Clutter is a sign of trapped energy so be ruthless and get rid of everything you don’t need.

Feng shui emphasizes that our physical surroundings have an impact on our emotional well-being so it’s important to be aware of how we arrange our space. Buyers often feel certain vibes when they enter a home so a "harmonious feel" could be the difference between a quick sale and one that drags on.

Getting to know the people living around you offers plenty of benefits!

Research shows that there are many physical and mental health benefits to enjoying a sense of belonging. Here are a few ideas to help you build community spirit:

Rags to Riches - Organize a garage sale or clothing swap in your ‘hood. It’s also a great way to get rid of clutter!

Clean Green - Coordinate a park clean-up and then enjoy drinks and snacks that will hopefully be donated by a local business.

Book Smart - Build a “Little Library” at your local park or on your front lawn and enjoy watching people gather to exchange books.

Getting to know people who live close by will really improve your quality of life and foster a sense of belonging. Social media can also help build a safe, connected, friendly place to live by providing a platform to share events and ideas.

Are you sick of scouring the paper and MLS sites looking for homes? Tired of playing telephone tag with agents only to hear the home's already sold? Sit back, relax and let me do the work for you! Just visit my website and check off the features you're looking for. Whenever a home matching your criteria hits the market, it'll be automatically flagged and emailed to you so you'll never have to worry about missing your dream home.